H.O. Charles's Blog, page 9
October 31, 2013
Book Trailer?
Is it worth making a book trailer, and should I have a go at one? Apparently the latest book trailer competition is kicking off here:
http://marsocial.com/2013/10/marsocial_book_trailer_competition/
Hmm... 3 days to make one - I don't think it would turn out to be the most professional thing if I made it now! Here are some previous entries to other competitions... I especially like the Maradonia Saga video (!!):
http://litreactor.com/columns/10-hysterical-sexy-awesome-ridicuolous-scary-book-trailers
http://marsocial.com/2013/10/marsocial_book_trailer_competition/
Hmm... 3 days to make one - I don't think it would turn out to be the most professional thing if I made it now! Here are some previous entries to other competitions... I especially like the Maradonia Saga video (!!):
http://litreactor.com/columns/10-hysterical-sexy-awesome-ridicuolous-scary-book-trailers
October 12, 2013
Shelfari
I've just noticed that a very dedicated person has put every single character ever mentioned in Vol 1 onto the Shelfari page here:
http://www.shelfari.com/books/26316832/City-of-Blaze-(The-Fireblade-Array)/history?filter=characters
Do you remember who they all are??
http://www.shelfari.com/books/26316832/City-of-Blaze-(The-Fireblade-Array)/history?filter=charactersDo you remember who they all are??
October 10, 2013
Blog switch and Donate button
The soooper swishy blog provided by Google started misbehaving recently (and hid all my pages!) so I've reverted to an older-style format to make things a bit clearer. I may tweak it a bit more over the coming days to get the colours right.
The second order of business is the 'donate' button. One very kindly reader requested that I put one onto my page and so... here it is! If you want to help fund my writing, cover the costs of my laptop electricity, pay for replacement keyboard keys or simply buy me a foamy tankard of ale, you are all more than welcome!
Don't worry, it'll take a good three or four ales before my literary endeavours with book 5 start to look squiffy. And yes... you'll be pleased to hear book 5 is moving faster now :-)
The second order of business is the 'donate' button. One very kindly reader requested that I put one onto my page and so... here it is! If you want to help fund my writing, cover the costs of my laptop electricity, pay for replacement keyboard keys or simply buy me a foamy tankard of ale, you are all more than welcome!
Don't worry, it'll take a good three or four ales before my literary endeavours with book 5 start to look squiffy. And yes... you'll be pleased to hear book 5 is moving faster now :-)
August 28, 2013
Featured on Apple Store's Breakout Books!
I'm totally chuffed (that's British for thrilled, if you didn't know) to be featured in iTunes' Breakout Books promotion. This is essentially a big shop window at the front of the Apple book store where novels and authors, whom Apple deem worthy, are given an extra push. It's a huge compliment to me and will hopefully introduce The Fireblade Array to more readers :D
A big thank you to all those readers who left reviews and ratings on the Apple Store pages - you made it happen!
A big thank you to all those readers who left reviews and ratings on the Apple Store pages - you made it happen!
August 18, 2013
Updating book files
Just a quick note to say we've spent some time updating various book files. Anomaly has been updated on Google - apparently there were missing pages (Google's fault!). Blazed Union has also been improved and updated in every store it's currently for sale in (our fault!).
Book 5 is still baking in the writers' oven - it should promise to have some twists that even Silar won't be able to predict!
Book 5 is still baking in the writers' oven - it should promise to have some twists that even Silar won't be able to predict!
July 9, 2013
Kickstarter project launched!
Hello all - quick update.
I'm looking for a bit of crowd-sourced funding to help me write book five of The Fireblade Array, much like the old-style advance offered by a publisher. I've no idea if the goal will be reached, but I thought it was worth a shot so that I can turn to writing full-time rather than trying to fit it around everything else (as I do at the moment). Funding will also help me to bring forward the release date of the fifth book considerably.
Basically, backers will be buying a piece of me to write like a blazed machine on fire for them! There are also some signed books on offer.
I'm not expecting donations from those of you who have already spent money on my books, but if you really are nuts and would still like to contribute to my Kickstarter campaign, you can find it here:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/711755219/volume-five-of-the-fireblade-array
I'm looking for a bit of crowd-sourced funding to help me write book five of The Fireblade Array, much like the old-style advance offered by a publisher. I've no idea if the goal will be reached, but I thought it was worth a shot so that I can turn to writing full-time rather than trying to fit it around everything else (as I do at the moment). Funding will also help me to bring forward the release date of the fifth book considerably.
Basically, backers will be buying a piece of me to write like a blazed machine on fire for them! There are also some signed books on offer.
I'm not expecting donations from those of you who have already spent money on my books, but if you really are nuts and would still like to contribute to my Kickstarter campaign, you can find it here:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/711755219/volume-five-of-the-fireblade-array
April 25, 2013
Hello, new readers!
Hello to you all - I'm guessing you landed on this blog because you wanted to find out more about The Fireblade Array and when the next book is coming out... or how many books there will be in the series. The first answer is... hmm... summer 2013ish, and the second answer is seven!
I hope you've all enjoyed everything you've read so far - it's been a blast writing it. To keep up with my progress, there are several things you can do:
1. Follow this blog. There's an RSS button somewhere over there --->
2. Follow me on Twitter - @HOCharles
3. Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hadleigh.O.Charles
4. Follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5241538.H_O_Charles
5. Subscribe to emails from the store where you bought my books. iTunes and Amazon have 'receive updates about this author' alerts on their sales pages. I think B&N does...
I hope to keep you entertained!
Lastly, and if you have a moment, please consider leaving a review or rating for one of my books at the store where you obtained it. I'm not expecting hundreds of five-star essays of worship (I can dream!!), but even a single line about your thoughts on TFA, positive or negative, can help other readers (and me!).
All best,
HOC
I hope you've all enjoyed everything you've read so far - it's been a blast writing it. To keep up with my progress, there are several things you can do:
1. Follow this blog. There's an RSS button somewhere over there --->
2. Follow me on Twitter - @HOCharles
3. Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hadleigh.O.Charles
4. Follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5241538.H_O_Charles
5. Subscribe to emails from the store where you bought my books. iTunes and Amazon have 'receive updates about this author' alerts on their sales pages. I think B&N does...
I hope to keep you entertained!
Lastly, and if you have a moment, please consider leaving a review or rating for one of my books at the store where you obtained it. I'm not expecting hundreds of five-star essays of worship (I can dream!!), but even a single line about your thoughts on TFA, positive or negative, can help other readers (and me!).
All best,
HOC
April 18, 2013
Work on Volume 5 of The Fireblade Array has commenced!
Yep, book 5 is in the works. As I mentioned before, Shatterlight is also being hammered away upon the great keypad of destiny. It's going to be fun writing two things at once!
I've always had this apprehensive feeling when I've started writing each of the Fireblade Array books, a feeling that they're going to end up being 400,000 words long every time! Hopefully not...
As always, further updates to follow!
I've always had this apprehensive feeling when I've started writing each of the Fireblade Array books, a feeling that they're going to end up being 400,000 words long every time! Hopefully not...
As always, further updates to follow!
April 15, 2013
Bouncing around in Amazon
Another day, another unexpected bounce in City of Blaze's Amazon rankings. I've looked everywhere to try and find out who's promoted it, but can't find the source! If anyone out there knows better, please tell me :)
For now I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all those new readers actually like the book!
For now I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all those new readers actually like the book!
April 10, 2013
Shatterlight
I few months ago I mentioned that I had some ideas bubbling away for a new book. It's still a work-in-progress, but it's starting to take shape now, and I hope to have something ready to publish in a few more months.
The book will be a great deal darker than The Fireblade Array, and will handle much heavier subject matter... I just hope that I can do it justice!
It's still very much of the fantasy genre, and I think I'd categorise it as a sort of gritty romance... or maybe it's not a romance - some of the characters are vile!
Anyway, keep an eye out for more updates about it (if it sounds like your cup of tea). The provisional title is "Shatterlight" :)
The book will be a great deal darker than The Fireblade Array, and will handle much heavier subject matter... I just hope that I can do it justice!
It's still very much of the fantasy genre, and I think I'd categorise it as a sort of gritty romance... or maybe it's not a romance - some of the characters are vile!
Anyway, keep an eye out for more updates about it (if it sounds like your cup of tea). The provisional title is "Shatterlight" :)
